A history of aerodynamic thinking in automotive design from the end of World War I to the brink of World War II.
Following World War I, car design in many European automobile companies underwent significant changes as they gained increased exposure to aviation expertise. Engineers and manufacturers, whose skills had been sharpened by wartime demands, began applying their knowledge to car design. In doing so, they redefined notions of shape and form, aiming to create vehicles that could slice through the air more efficiently. However, while many designs appeared aerodynamic, they often fell short in performance, while some of the most aerodynamically advanced vehicles featured unconventional or visually challenging aesthetics. Aeroesthetics: The Art of Streamlining explores the science of aerodynamics in depth and examines its influence on vehicle design up to the outbreak of World War II.
Following World War I, car design in many European automobile companies underwent significant changes as they gained increased exposure to aviation expertise. Engineers and manufacturers, whose skills had been sharpened by wartime demands, began applying their knowledge to car design. In doing so, they redefined notions of shape and form, aiming to create vehicles that could slice through the air more efficiently. However, while many designs appeared aerodynamic, they often fell short in performance, while some of the most aerodynamically advanced vehicles featured unconventional or visually challenging aesthetics. Aeroesthetics: The Art of Streamlining explores the science of aerodynamics in depth and examines its influence on vehicle design up to the outbreak of World War II.
360 pages | 500 color plates | 8.62 x 11.97 | © 2026
History: History of Technology
Transportation: Automotive
Table of Contents
Preface
Forword
Introduction
Advent of Automobile & Early Racing
1913 A.L.F.A. 40-60hp Aerodinamica by Castagna
The Egg-Shaped Ones
1920 Ballot 3/8LC Indianapolis
1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen
1921 Leyat Helica
The Racing Machines
1922 Paul Jaray’s Ley T-6
1923 Persu Streamliner
1923 Bugatti Type 32 tank
1927 Chenard & Walker Y8
Slim Waisted Racers & Other Oddities
And then the Americans Got into the Act
From Auburn to Dymaxion
When Airflow Became More Important
Peugeot’s Response
And then the French got going
The Scientific Approach
The Aerodynamics of Andreau
The French Story Continues
The Italian Affairs
When the British did Aero
The East Does Aero Too
But it was Germany that Ruled
Racing at the Autobahns
The Autobahns & People’s Cars
An Aerodynamic Kamm Back
Paul Jaray
Gerhard Wicken Interview
A History of Wind Tunnels + Calculating Drag Coefficient by Charles Osio
Acknowledgement & Bibliography
Index
Forword
Introduction
Advent of Automobile & Early Racing
1913 A.L.F.A. 40-60hp Aerodinamica by Castagna
The Egg-Shaped Ones
1920 Ballot 3/8LC Indianapolis
1921 Rumpler Tropfenwagen
1921 Leyat Helica
The Racing Machines
1922 Paul Jaray’s Ley T-6
1923 Persu Streamliner
1923 Bugatti Type 32 tank
1927 Chenard & Walker Y8
Slim Waisted Racers & Other Oddities
And then the Americans Got into the Act
From Auburn to Dymaxion
When Airflow Became More Important
Peugeot’s Response
And then the French got going
The Scientific Approach
The Aerodynamics of Andreau
The French Story Continues
The Italian Affairs
When the British did Aero
The East Does Aero Too
But it was Germany that Ruled
Racing at the Autobahns
The Autobahns & People’s Cars
An Aerodynamic Kamm Back
Paul Jaray
Gerhard Wicken Interview
A History of Wind Tunnels + Calculating Drag Coefficient by Charles Osio
Acknowledgement & Bibliography
Index